Prosecutors have announced their intention to seek the death penalty for James Holmes, the alleged shooter that killed 12 and injured 70 in an Aurora, Colorado midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises”.

George Brauchler, the Arapahoe County district attorney, said that the state would pursue the death penalty for the alleged shooter in the Aurora movie theater massacre.

Brauchler said that his office reached out to more than 800 victims and family members to make a decision.

“It’s my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death,” Brauchler told the court.

Earlier, Holmes’ attorney offered a plea deal of life in prison, only to be rejected by prosecutors.

The defense will argue that Holmes was legally insane at the time of the shooting.